Jennifer Hudson Spent 5 Days in Prison to Prepare for 'Winnie'

Black America Web is reporting that Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson confined herself in an African prison cell to prepare for her role as Winnie Mandela. Hudson, who will star in an upcoming biopic as Nelson Mandela's ex-wife, confined herself to a prison cell for five days after learning that Winnie spent 500 days in solitary confinement.

"[I attempted to] experience some of the hell that woman went through," she tells the Daily Beast. Hudson added, "They snatched her out of her home, and she had no idea what happened to her children. Imagine living that? This was her life! This was real.

"As a woman, I am angry for her, hurting for her. And as a mom? God, being in solitary confinement, away from my son just for five days when shooting those scenes -- it was too much for me. I was drained and stripped down. I was changed."

Hudson's attempt to relive what Winnie experienced is admirable. Darrell Roodt's biopic of Winnie documents her life, her fight against apartheid and her marriage to the former South African president.